Page 23 - RPV v Chalfont St Peter
P. 23
2
in 23 took Saints to the top to the A strong run in the FA Cup illumi- peated the poor run of results there- 2018/19 saw Saints return to the
pile where they became the target nated the 2012/13 season. An im- after and fell away to finish sixth. Isthmian League after 12 seasons
for other teams’ top performances pressive win at Carshalton Athletic Still an excellent all-round season as as football was restructured. An in-
and it wasn’t until they were over- earned a tie against Conference side Tony Mendy secured top scorer hon- consistent defence and a shortage
taken by Aylesbury in the last two Bishop’s Stortford. A draw at Mill ours in the division with 30 goals. of goals ensured Saints were unable
games that they had to settle for the Meadow set up a replay that ulti- Poor signings to escape the mid-table places. To-
runners-up spot again. mately proved a step too far. Playing In contrast, season 2016/17 was wards the end of the season, Danny
Champagne corks popped with style, Saints were to earn the possibly the poorest in over a dec- Edwards signalled his wish to step
At the start of 2010/11, the aim was Division’s Fair Play title but couldn’t ade. A storming start to the season down from the role he had held with
clear: promotion was the number reach the play-off positions. saw Saints in top spot throughout such distinction and Saints had to
one target. Getting off to an incred- Lack of firepower August but the hole left by the de- begin the process of finding a new
ible start in notching up seventeen With a lack of firepower, the parted Mendy was never filled and manager.
straight wins, Saints grabbed top 2013/14 was a disappointing way as the goals dried up so the tumble Led by Finlay Johnson
spot and refused to relinquish it for to mark Danny Edwards’ tenth sea- down the table gathered pace. Some The dawn of the 2019/20 season sees
the entire season, never being less son in charge. The lack of goals con- poor signings added to the problems Saints, not only with a new manage-
than four points clear at any stage. signed the side to a mid-table finish and the second half of the season de- ment team, led by Finlay Johnson,
The focus was clear and any pro- despite boasting one of the meanest livered just four wins and for a while another young manager being given
gress in the cups was quickly cur- defences. relegation was a real possibility be- the opportunity to prove himself at
tailed. Such was the dominance in 2014/15 saw the goals begin to re- fore safety was finally achieved. the higher level, but also a wholly
the league, the champagne corks turn. A promising start saw the side The 2017/18 was one of our most new squad as players followed Ed-
popped with five games to spare as hard to beat but too many draws exciting seasons in the Southern wards to new pastures. The opportu-
the title was secured. The curtain held them back. A run in the FA League, our seventh, with the side in nity to build something new from the
was brought down on the record Cup, highlighted by a deserved win playoff contention right up until the ground up promises to be an exciting
breaking season and their five year in front of a baying Kettering crowd final few games. Our peerless record one.
stay in the Spartan League by win- was coupled with a strong run in No- against those sides who ultimately
ning the Challenge Trophy for an un- vember that saw the club in a play- claimed the top places, with just the C L
precedented league and cup double. off position but from such heights, single defeat in 12 games, including C I
Genuine contenders a miserable New Year run saw them a notable double against champi- K
O
For the 2011/12 season, life was ex- tumble down into relegation terri- ons Beaconsfield Town, underlined N
pected to be a trial for Saints yet they tory. It took a stubborn recovery in how competitive a side we were. Still P
R
made a bright start in their new en- April to ensure eventual safety. struggling for goals, it was our de- O
G
virons and quickly acclimatised. For 2015/16 was a highwater mark for fence that led the way with 16 clean R
A
long periods they were genuine con- Saints in their current run in the sheets. It was a season that saw ever- M
M
tenders but a poor end to the season, Southern League. Putting aside an green skipper Alan Hedley pass the E
combined with the loss of totemic early exit in the FA Cup Saints went 500 games mark and manager Danny T
O
striker Charlie Strutton to the pro- on to head the table at New Year and Edwards reach 700 games in charge. V
fessional ranks, saw them fall away looked set for their first tilt at the Saints embrace change but enjoy sta- E I
W
into the mid table. play offs, if not more. Sadly they re- bility at the same time.
WWW.RPVC.COM 22 WWW.RPVC.COM 23